I have the desert tan or whatever. After about 3 months it hasn't rubbed anything off. It has only failed to deploy once when checking my equipment every morning. My only complaint is the switch is really stiff. It doesn't rattle and has very little blade play. I have the drop point blade in black coating wish it had been the tan color.
If you want an aluminum handle then spend $100-$200 more. This piece is kept at a reasonable price point (sub $300) for a reason. My Combat Troodon and Dirac Delta were $200 & $100 more respectively again, for a reason. The Shootout is vastly underrated. I love mine and carry it everyday.
Dude, sub 3 ounce. I know it feels cheap, so did polymer handguns when they started becoming popular, now I love them. The fact that the knife is noticeably lighter than any knife it’s size (that I can think of) is huge for me. Put it on your person and it disappears.
I personally believe the knife is perfect the way it is. Light weight, very sharp, easy to deploy. That in my book is a perfect OTF. The best part is if something breaks on it you can send it to Benchmade and they'll fix it up for you, so no need to worry about the plastic handle.
I prefer my Shootout to my Infidel. The handle doesn't bother me at all, the CF Elite is not going break. I have a ton of Benchmades and this is the first one that competes with my 940-1 for my EDC.
I understand the strength of CF Elite, I also have other knives with it. It’s more the feel of cheapness and the fact that they are saving a ton of money with manufacturing using it. Seem’s like Profit first, rather than the best materials. But anyway thanks for watching!
@@EDCTantoKnives I get it. Alot of people don't like polymer frame handguns for similar reasons. I think of them purely as a tool though and all my makitas are plastic bodies and I would never want them to be metal bodies (or my handguns) I have beat them all to death and they have never failed me.
Are you aware that its a high quality polymer mixed with Carbon Fiber.... that makes it increbily durable, lightweight and (EXPENSIVE)??? Or are you dense calling it plastic lol, did you need more bads to find. Mine sits fully centered unless its in the hilt in which case it sits on one side before being ejected.
Just got mine yesterday, first thing I noticed was the heavy rattle with blade deployed. Like, using the word rattle is being generous, it's excessive and loud, at least my example is. Sounds like the whole carriage mechanism is just kinda like floating freely inside there, really. Second thing I noticed was what everyone else says, it feels like a toy. It just does, period. I have other models that use this CF-Elite material, like the casbah for example (maybe this is "grivory", to me there is little difference either way), and it too feels el cheapo not to mention it's champion status in the pocket shredding realm, so does my mini presidio, etc etc. Third and worst offense for me is the excessive side to side blade slop. I've watched so many vids and reviews of this knife, and few have mentioned this, which kind of makes me wonder if maybe I just got a dud? Is there variance in the action/lockup? There shouldn't be if Benchmade has any QC going on there at all. All I know is that mine has football fields worth of side to side slop, so much so that it's both distracting and the opposite of confidence inspiring. Again and to put it into perspective here, I've read and watched tons of reviews and did most definitely expect slop, just not at the crazy level I'm experiencing with mine, it's really that shitty, sorry for being honest, but not really. Did I get a dud, or is this common and the bulk of the otf world just accepts this as part of the territory? I wish I knew... More perspective: my Ultratech has play too, nowhere near this level of slop though, it was 50 bucks more than the shootout. My hogue counterstrike, even better lockup and quieter than the ultra, it was about 60 bucks more than the shootout. My Helly-tec, which should be absolute garbage in comparison, also has less blade play, and wow yeah, that's just sad for real! Why are so few reviewers mentioning this abysmal blade slop? Did I get the lemon? Damn wish I knew because I really want to love this OTF, I love the design, the thinner blade stock and blade shape more conducive to cutting/slicing, the edc-friendly weight and carry, and I like the smooth action. I can even get past it's super cheap feel, which I expected since I have some experience with this material. The sloppy lockup though, is what's killing me here...
The Cf elite would be totally cool if it was like $200 or less. Benchmade just keeps getting rewarded with “sold out everywhere” for their overpriced knives, they won’t stop anytime soon. I wish spyderco would do an otf 😂
@@EDCTantoKnives The markup is real - I've a friend who works at a Scheel's that claims he can buy a Shootout for "under $200" with his employee discount.
To each their own. I don't think it's a deal breaker, I actually like it. (Better to need and have it, rather than need it and not have it, but those situations are rare). Might be useful for armed forces/law enforcement etc.
I have the desert tan or whatever. After about 3 months it hasn't rubbed anything off. It has only failed to deploy once when checking my equipment every morning. My only complaint is the switch is really stiff. It doesn't rattle and has very little blade play. I have the drop point blade in black coating wish it had been the tan color.
I like mine a lot. It’s nice and light around the house, stays sharp, thin blade, good slicer.
It really is a good overall, the handle just drives me a little crazy 🤣
@@EDCTantoKnives I get it. It would be nice if they’d do one in aluminum or straight cf.
@@buckshot1955 ya for sure
If you want an aluminum handle then spend $100-$200 more. This piece is kept at a reasonable price point (sub $300) for a reason. My Combat Troodon and Dirac Delta were $200 & $100 more respectively again, for a reason. The Shootout is vastly underrated. I love mine and carry it everyday.
Dude, sub 3 ounce. I know it feels cheap, so did polymer handguns when they started becoming popular, now I love them. The fact that the knife is noticeably lighter than any knife it’s size (that I can think of) is huge for me. Put it on your person and it disappears.
I get it for sure. I feel like I've lost it if I don't feel it 🤣
Been carrying mine for a month now. Ultra lightweight and reliable. Many options out there in aluminium and G10 if that’s what’s preferred.
It is a nice OTF. Your right, not shortage of OTF’s these days.
I personally believe the knife is perfect the way it is. Light weight, very sharp, easy to deploy. That in my book is a perfect OTF. The best part is if something breaks on it you can send it to Benchmade and they'll fix it up for you, so no need to worry about the plastic handle.
And, would Heat, for example if you leave this knife in the Car during Summer, would the Heat affect the handle/plastic
I prefer my Shootout to my Infidel.
The handle doesn't bother me at all, the CF Elite is not going break.
I have a ton of Benchmades and this is the first one that competes with my 940-1 for my EDC.
I understand the strength of CF Elite, I also have other knives with it. It’s more the feel of cheapness and the fact that they are saving a ton of money with manufacturing using it. Seem’s like Profit first, rather than the best materials.
But anyway thanks for watching!
@@EDCTantoKnives I get it. Alot of people don't like polymer frame handguns for similar reasons. I think of them purely as a tool though and all my makitas are plastic bodies and I would never want them to be metal bodies (or my handguns) I have beat them all to death and they have never failed me.
@@herrerajoey2 ya true 🤣
Are you aware that its a high quality polymer mixed with Carbon Fiber.... that makes it increbily durable, lightweight and (EXPENSIVE)??? Or are you dense calling it plastic lol, did you need more bads to find. Mine sits fully centered unless its in the hilt in which case it sits on one side before being ejected.
Damning with faint praise??
Carried mine for a month and the rear spring retainer broke, im sending it in for warranty at the time being.
If it's not centered send it back under warranty
I'm with you on the plastic, would have been better with metal or even g10
Ya it just could have been a little better.
Then buy a Microtech!
Just got mine yesterday, first thing I noticed was the heavy rattle with blade deployed. Like, using the word rattle is being generous, it's excessive and loud, at least my example is. Sounds like the whole carriage mechanism is just kinda like floating freely inside there, really. Second thing I noticed was what everyone else says, it feels like a toy. It just does, period. I have other models that use this CF-Elite material, like the casbah for example (maybe this is "grivory", to me there is little difference either way), and it too feels el cheapo not to mention it's champion status in the pocket shredding realm, so does my mini presidio, etc etc.
Third and worst offense for me is the excessive side to side blade slop. I've watched so many vids and reviews of this knife, and few have mentioned this, which kind of makes me wonder if maybe I just got a dud? Is there variance in the action/lockup? There shouldn't be if Benchmade has any QC going on there at all. All I know is that mine has football fields worth of side to side slop, so much so that it's both distracting and the opposite of confidence inspiring.
Again and to put it into perspective here, I've read and watched tons of reviews and did most definitely expect slop, just not at the crazy level I'm experiencing with mine, it's really that shitty, sorry for being honest, but not really.
Did I get a dud, or is this common and the bulk of the otf world just accepts this as part of the territory? I wish I knew...
More perspective: my Ultratech has play too, nowhere near this level of slop though, it was 50 bucks more than the shootout. My hogue counterstrike, even better lockup and quieter than the ultra, it was about 60 bucks more than the shootout. My Helly-tec, which should be absolute garbage in comparison, also has less blade play, and wow yeah, that's just sad for real!
Why are so few reviewers mentioning this abysmal blade slop? Did I get the lemon? Damn wish I knew because I really want to love this OTF, I love the design, the thinner blade stock and blade shape more conducive to cutting/slicing, the edc-friendly weight and carry, and I like the smooth action. I can even get past it's super cheap feel, which I expected since I have some experience with this material. The sloppy lockup though, is what's killing me here...
Sounds like you may have gotten a bad one! I would send it back, It shouldn't have that many issues.
The Cf elite would be totally cool if it was like $200 or less. Benchmade just keeps getting rewarded with “sold out everywhere” for their overpriced knives, they won’t stop anytime soon. I wish spyderco would do an otf 😂
So true, unfortunately prices I’m sure will be going up across everything. 200 would be a great price for this knife.
@@EDCTantoKnives The markup is real - I've a friend who works at a Scheel's that claims he can buy a Shootout for "under $200" with his employee discount.
@@pbdye1607 I work at Sportsman's Warehouse, my discount makes it less than $100 excluding tax lol
I would be really curious about a spyderco OTF. I bet it would be bad ass.
$315 for rattling plastic? Nope!
I feel ya with the plastic…. I personally always swap the scales out with metal. I like to feel the weight of a tool and not the plastic of a toy
Awesome OTF, but i will not buy, just because that Glaasbreaker
Ya, glass breakers tend to be the big reason why some won’t buy some knives.
To each their own. I don't think it's a deal breaker, I actually like it. (Better to need and have it, rather than need it and not have it, but those situations are rare). Might be useful for armed forces/law enforcement etc.
You can replace the glass breaker. 😉
This is an AK or AR argument, both 🔥..